{"id":"finder-location.what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"drive-disconnected","title":"When the drive isn't connected"},"question":"What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention?","alt_questions":["What is a broken relocation?","Relocated panel shows a warning on a folder","shortcut points to nothing storage studio","data on the fast drive with no shortcut","Why is a moved folder marked red in Storage Studio?","Fix a broken shortcut to the external drive"],"short_answer":"The shortcut and the drive copy no longer match: the shortcut is gone, its data is missing (often the drive is unplugged), or the drive copy is empty. Reconnect the drive first, then check the row's warning in the Relocated panel.","answer_markdown":"It means the link between the original location and the drive copy no longer adds up. There are three cases:\n\n- **The shortcut is gone** but the data is still on the drive (often a deleted or moved shortcut).\n- **The shortcut is there but its data is missing** — usually because the drive isn't connected, or the files were removed from the drive outside Storage Studio.\n- **The copy on the drive is empty.**\n\nFirst, make sure the drive is plugged in — that resolves most cases. If it still shows, open **What's Using Space**, click **Relocated (N)**, and read the row's warning. Broken rows offer a red **Delete** chip that, after a confirmation tailored to the case, tidies up the leftover data, the dead shortcut and Storage Studio's record together.\n\nIf you deleted the shortcut by mistake, putting it back from the Trash is the simplest fix.","answer_html":"

It means the link between the original location and the drive copy no longer adds up. There are three cases:

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First, make sure the drive is plugged in — that resolves most cases. If it still shows, open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and read the row's warning. Broken rows offer a red Delete chip that, after a confirmation tailored to the case, tidies up the leftover data, the dead shortcut and Storage Studio's record together.

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If you deleted the shortcut by mistake, putting it back from the Trash is the simplest fix.

","answer_text":"It means the link between the original location and the drive copy no longer adds up. There are three cases:\n\n- The shortcut is gone but the data is still on the drive (often a deleted or moved shortcut).\n- The shortcut is there but its data is missing — usually because the drive isn't connected, or the files were removed from the drive outside Storage Studio.\n- The copy on the drive is empty.\n\nFirst, make sure the drive is plugged in — that resolves most cases. If it still shows, open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and read the row's warning. Broken rows offer a red Delete chip that, after a confirmation tailored to the case, tidies up the leftover data, the dead shortcut and Storage Studio's record together.\n\nIf you deleted the shortcut by mistake, putting it back from the Trash is the simplest fix.","tags":["broken","relocated","troubleshooting"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder","question":"What happens if I delete one of Storage Studio's shortcuts in Finder?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-if-i-delete-a-shortcut-in-finder"},{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What do moved files look like in Finder when my external drive is unplugged?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"},{"id":"finder-location.where-do-i-see-everything-storage-studio-has-moved","question":"Where can I see a list of everything Storage Studio has moved to my drive?","url":"/faq/finder-location/where-do-i-see-everything-storage-studio-has-moved"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"The shortcut and the drive copy no longer match: the shortcut is gone, its data is missing (often the drive is unplugged), or the drive copy is empty. Reconnect the drive first, then check the row's warning in the Relocated panel.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention?","path":"/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention?","alternateName":["What is a broken relocation?","Relocated panel shows a warning on a folder","shortcut points to nothing storage studio","data on the fast drive with no shortcut","Why is a moved folder marked red in Storage Studio?","Fix a broken shortcut to the external drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It means the link between the original location and the drive copy no longer adds up. There are three cases:\n\n- The shortcut is gone but the data is still on the drive (often a deleted or moved shortcut).\n- The shortcut is there but its data is missing — usually because the drive isn't connected, or the files were removed from the drive outside Storage Studio.\n- The copy on the drive is empty.\n\nFirst, make sure the drive is plugged in — that resolves most cases. If it still shows, open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and read the row's warning. Broken rows offer a red Delete chip that, after a confirmation tailored to the case, tidies up the leftover data, the dead shortcut and Storage Studio's record together.\n\nIf you deleted the shortcut by mistake, putting it back from the Trash is the simplest fix.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/what-does-a-broken-relocation-mean"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · When the drive isn't connected

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What does it mean when a moved folder shows as broken or needing attention?

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Short answer: The shortcut and the drive copy no longer match: the shortcut is gone, its data is missing (often the drive is unplugged), or the drive copy is empty. Reconnect the drive first, then check the row's warning in the Relocated panel.

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It means the link between the original location and the drive copy no longer adds up. There are three cases:

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  • The shortcut is gone but the data is still on the drive (often a deleted or moved shortcut).
  • The shortcut is there but its data is missing — usually because the drive isn't connected, or the files were removed from the drive outside Storage Studio.
  • The copy on the drive is empty.
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First, make sure the drive is plugged in — that resolves most cases. If it still shows, open What's Using Space, click Relocated (N), and read the row's warning. Broken rows offer a red Delete chip that, after a confirmation tailored to the case, tidies up the leftover data, the dead shortcut and Storage Studio's record together.

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If you deleted the shortcut by mistake, putting it back from the Trash is the simplest fix.

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Last reviewed

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